Matanzas Bridge Fishing Pier

Matanzas Bridge Fishing Pier is a free county pier under the Matanzas Pass Bridge, and while the Fort Myers Beach Pier is being rebuilt (work began in August 2026 and is expected to take about a year) it is one of the few piers on this stretch of Lee County.

• Deep, moving water in Matanzas Pass
• Sheepshead and black drum in winter, snook and snapper in summer
• Free, with limited free parking
• Listed by the county with accessible amenities

The pier is on San Carlos Island just off Main Street, under the San Carlos Island end of the Matanzas Pass Bridge that carries San Carlos Boulevard onto Estero Island.

• Parking: free and limited, beside the pier
• Hours: dawn to dusk
• Fees: none at present, according to Lee County
• A second short pier under the Estero Island end of the bridge is run by the Town of Fort Myers Beach, not the county; check with the town that it is open before planning on it
• Surface: a short deck, which the county lists among its accessible fishing amenities

Matanzas Pass links Estero Bay to San Carlos Bay and the Gulf, so fish pass through all year.

• Spring (Mar–May): sheepshead finish, snook and jacks return, Spanish mackerel and ladyfish chase bait
• Summer (Jun–Aug): snook around the bridge shadows, mangrove snapper on the pilings, jacks and ladyfish
• Fall (Sep–Nov): redfish and trout on the tide, snook and snapper still around
• Winter (Dec–Feb): the best season for sheepshead and black drum on the pilings

Fish close to the structure.

• Sheepshead: fiddler crabs, barnacle bits or shrimp on a short knocker rig and a small strong hook, straight down the pilings
• Snapper: shrimp or cut bait on a 1/0 circle hook with 15 to 20 lb leader
• Snook and reds: live pinfish or shrimp on a 2/0 circle hook with 30 to 40 lb leader, fished down-current
• Black drum: crab or shrimp on the bottom
• A pier net helps with any good fish

Tides in Matanzas Pass come as two uneven highs and lows on most days, with a daily range of roughly two to three and a half feet at NOAA's Matanzas Pass station beside the bridge, and the pass carries a strong flow between them.

• The hour or two either side of slack is best for bottom fishing on the pilings
• Mid-tide suits drifting live bait for snook and reds
• Low light in the evening, before the dusk closing, is best for snook
• After heavy rain Estero Bay runs dark; fish the incoming tide
• Cold fronts push sheepshead and drum onto the pilings in winter

A short pier with the usual hazards of a working channel.

• Strong current and heavy boat traffic, including commercial boats; never enter the water
• Summer lightning: leave at the first thunder
• Little shade on the deck; bring water and sun protection
• The county lists the fishing and the free parking as accessible; the short deck is one of the easier spots to reach
• Pets are not allowed

This is a simple pier.

• Free parking, limited in number
• The county lists only fishing and free parking here: no restrooms, bait or lights, so bring bait with you
• Food and drink are a short drive away on Fort Myers Beach
• Bring a cooler with ice, a pier net and a folding chair; the deck is short, so arrive early

• Winter sheepshead are the most reliable catch; bring fiddler crabs
• Drop straight down the pilings rather than casting out
• Parking is tight; arrive early on weekends
• Keep lines clear of passing boats in the channel
• Snook feed along the bridge shadow at dusk; be off by closing time
• Watch for manatees and dolphins in the pass

Lee County maintains and operates the pier; follow posted rules.

• Lee County notes that a saltwater fishing license is required to fish from shore, with no fee for Florida residents' shoreline license
• Open dawn to dusk; no pets
• County park rules ban cast netting from fishing piers, and nets, spears, snatch hooks and gigs in parks at all times
• Release any goliath grouper or sawfish in the water: check FWC
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything